Child pornography is a form of child sexual exploitation, and each image graphically memorializes the sexual abuse of that child. It is important to distinguish child pornography from the more conventional understanding of the term pornography. The continuous production and distribution of child pornography increases the demand for new and more egregious images, perpetuating the continued molestation of child victims, as well as the abuse of new children. Unfortunately, no area of the United States or country in the world is immune from individuals who seek to sexually exploit children through child pornography. Several sophisticated online criminal organizations have even written security manuals to ensure that their members follow preferred security protocols and encryption techniques in an attempt to evade law enforcement and facilitate the sexual abuse of children. Purveyors of child pornography continue to use various encryption techniques and anonymous networks on “The Dark Internet”, attempting to hide their amassed collections of illicit child abuse images. The methods many offenders use to evade law enforcement detection have also become increasingly sophisticated. For this reason, online communities attract and encourage new individuals to join them in the sexual exploitation of children. This has the effect of eroding the shame that typically would accompany this behavior, as well as desensitizing those involved to the physical and psychological damage caused to the child victims. These online communities have promoted communication and collaboration between child pornography offenders, thereby fostering a larger relationship premised on a shared sexual interest in children. Child pornography offenders can also connect on Internet forums and networks to share their interests, desires, and experiences abusing children, in addition to selling, sharing, and trading images. Child pornography images are readily available through virtually every Internet technology, including social networking websites, file-sharing sites, photo-sharing sites, gaming devices, and even mobile apps. The expansion of the Internet and advanced digital technology lies parallel to the explosion of the child pornography market. This often creates lasting psychological damage to the child, including disruptions in sexual development, self-image, and developing trusting relationships with others in the future. The children exploited in these images must live with the permanency, longevity, and circulation of such a record of their sexual victimization. Experts and victims agree that victims depicted in child pornography often suffer a lifetime of re-victimization by knowing the images of their sexual abuse are on the Internet forever. When these images are placed on the Internet and disseminated online, the victimization of the children continues in perpetuity. The production of child pornography creates a permanent record of a child’s sexual abuse. However, this term fails to describe the true horror that is faced by countless children every year. A violation of federal child pornography laws is a serious crime, and convicted offenders face fines severe statutory penalties (For more information, see Citizen's Guide to Federal Law on Child Pornography).īecause the term “child pornography” is used in federal statutes, it is also commonly used by lawmakers, prosecutors, investigators, and the public to describe this form of sexual exploitation of children. Images of child pornography are also referred to as child sexual abuse images.įederal law prohibits the production, distribution, importation, reception, or possession of any image of child pornography. Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor (persons less than 18 years old). speaks at the National Strategy Conference on Combating Child Exploitation in San Jose, California, May 19, 2011.Ĭhild pornography is a form of child sexual exploitation.
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